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American singer Barbara Hendricks –accompanied by Mathias Algotsson’s piano and organ and Ulf Englund’s guitar– will offer a jazz, blues, gospel and opera repertoire at the Villa Victorina Gardens in Jerez on August 13. With a career expanding over four decades, Hendricks is an acknowledged human rights advocate, UN Ambassador for Refugees and Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts.
American artist Barbara Hendricks, a soprano and performer of jazz, blues and other musical genres such as gospel and spirituals, will offer an exclusive recital, part of the 4th Tío Pepe Festival. Not in vain, it will be the only summer appointment this year in Spain. Hendricks, one of the most prestigious contemporary voices, will present "Route to Freedom" on Sunday August 13 at 9:30 pm at the Villa Victorina Gardens, part the González Byass wineries, on the fourth day of this multi-sensory experience that combines culture, wine, gastronomy and tradition.
Hendricks' artistic record has been outstanding from her very beginnings, more than 40 years ago: her privileged throat has delighted American and European audiences alike –on stages such as the San Francisco Opera and the Glyndebourne Festival– with a repertoire that covers more than 20 opera characters –12 of which recorded; above all, she is considered an impeccable performer of Mozart's librettos. Furthermore, the singer has been honoured with several international recognitions, such as the French Legion of Honour and the Prince of Asturias Award for the Arts for her tireless struggle for the end to racial segregation and the Civil Rights Movement, inspired by Rosa Parks and led by Martin Luther King. She is currently the only lifelong goodwill ambassador of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (Acnur) and, since 1987, has also been devoted to promoting Human Rights through her commitment to the cause of refugees throughout the world.
Barbara Hendricks, born in the South of the United States of America in 1948, under Jim Crow’s cruel laws on racial segregation, began singing spirituals at the church of her father in rural Arkansas; she took shelter in this type of music, which made her dream of a better future. Graduated in Mathematics and Chemistry by the University of Nebraska at 20, the artist attended Juilliard School in New York, where she studied singing under the coaching of mezzo-soprano Jennie Tourel and had the chance to take part in some of Maria Callas’ master classes. After decades performing on countless stages around the world, she is now a Swedish citizen –a host country for many other musicians and jazz performers– but has never forgotten her origins or stopped fighting for human rights every day of her personal and artistic career.
In a way, this "Road to freedom", to be presented in the 4th Tío Pepe Festival, is a compilation of Hendricks’ entire career in both directions: her concert will be full of jazz, gospel, spirituals but also of her prestigious operatic repertoire. Some of the better-known themes included in that evening's show are "Down in Mississippi", "Dark was the Night", "Glory Halleluja", "Strange Fruit" and "Amazing Grace". "A song will never stop a war or change an unjust law. But it will give strength and courage to people struggling to stop wars and change unjust laws. It will let them know that they are not alone," Hendricks said in a recent interview to the Spanish press on the occasion of the "Route to Freedom” tour she has undertaken. A route which, as she insists, "I'm afraid could not have a more topical name". On the stage of the magical Villa Victorina Gardens in Jerez, Hendricks’ voice and charisma will be accompanied by experienced and prestigious musicians Mathias Algotsson, piano and organ, and Ulf Englund, playing the guitar.
In the unequalled setting of the 4th Tío Pepe Festival, promoted by wineries González Byass, this will be a unique opportunity to meet one of the greatest ladies of music, a phenomenal voice full of nuances, as well as a tireless advocate of human rights. An exceptional evening on the fourth day of a festival that has been awarded Best Wine Tourism Experience 2016 with a special mention granted by Acevin. According to the jury, the Tío Pepe Festival "is an exceptional appointment with enjoyment, in which wine tourists can attend a series of high level concerts and dinners held in the unique spaces of this winery during the summer nights”.